Description Angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels, plays an important role in many physiological (e.g.
wound healing) and pathological (e.g. tumor growth and inflammation disease) processes. As a complex
multi-step process, angiogenesis involves degradation of basement membrane, proliferation and migration of
endothelial cells into extracellular matrix (ECM), followed by alignment and reorganization of endothelial
cells into three-dimensional tubular structure and formation of new basement membrane. Specifically, the critical step of
the formation of three-dimensional tubular structure by endothelial cells is the objective of many in vivo and in vitro angiogenesis
assays to screen efficacy of both pro- and antiangiogenic agents. The ScienCell In Vitro Tube Formation Assay provides a convenient system to
measure the formation of three-dimensional tubular structure by enodothelial cells when cultured on an ECM gel of basement membrane
extract. The ECM gel, which is prepared from Engelbreth Holm-Swarm (EHS) sarcoma produced in mice, consists of laminin, collagen IV, heparan sulfate proteoglycan,
entactin and other minor components optimized for tube formation. With this system, tube formation can
be achieved within 6-18 hours, with the earliest signs of tubular structure shown up after 3-4 hours. The Assay also provides a colorimetric cell staining reagent for better examination.
Product Use This assay kit is used to evaluate tube formation in vitro. It is for research use only. Not for use in animals,
humans, or diagnostic procedures.